Steam-engine



No. 68,350. Patented Nov. I, I898. W. S. WRIGHT.

STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan 7, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

ATTORNEY.

No. 68,350. Patented Nov. l, I898. W. S. WRIGHT. STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 7, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

We Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EFIcE.

WILLIAM S. WRIGHT, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,350, dated November 1, 1898. Application filed January '7, 1897. Serial Np. 618,277. N model- To all whom, it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates'to certain improvements in what are termed trunk-engines. Its object is to provide a double-cylinder'engine in which the pistons also act as valves, thus dispensing with the usual valves, eccentrics, and other auxiliary connections for controlling the steam.

The invention will be first fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then particularly referred to and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference-letters wherever they occur throughout the various views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the engine. same, taken through line 0c 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the trunk of the case on line y y of Fig. 2, showing the pistons crank-shaft and pitman in elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the trunk through the axis of one of the pistons on line 1') o of Fig. 3, looking toward the right, showing the supply-pipe, pitman, and piston in elevation and the crank-shaft, wrist, and fourway cock in section. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views similar to Fig. 3, showing the pistons in the different positions they assume when the engine is in motion. Fig. 8 is a detail view in diametrical section of one of the pistons. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the same through line a n of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a similar view through line 0 0 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, of a modification which adapts the pistons to a compound engine. I

A represents two steam-cylinders preferably cast in a single piece, as is also the base A. The piston-chambers and the steamways are cored out in casting and the chambers are bored to snugly receive the pistons B and B, which are also cored out centrally to near the top, as clearly seen in Fig. 8, leaving studs upon each side, which, when bored through, furnish a bearing for the pin Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the b, which couples the upper end of the pitman G to the piston, the lower end being coupled to the wrist-pin of the crank-shaft D. The steamways in the piston are cored out in molding and the openings coming opposite the steam-ports in the cylinder are dressed on their, edges to receive and guide the sliding cut-ofi blocks a, a 1), and 19 which fit loosely within their Ways, but are held against the wall of the cylinder by the pressure of steam back of them. The upper ends of the cylinder are both closed at the top by metal caps a, which may be screwed down from the top or bolted in the usual manner.

The steam to the cylinder is supplied through the pipe E, Fig. 4, and exhausted through the escape E. The supply is controlled by the four-way cock F, whichis for the purpose of reversing the engine by turning the supply either into the branch e or e. As shown in the drawings, the steam is turned through the branch 6 and enters the cylinders at a, Fig. 2, thence through the passages in the cylinders A, and through the port a in piston B, and thence across the diagonal passage above .the piston B. In the same manner the opposite piston B receives steam through the port b and thence across the diagonal passage above the piston B. At the completion of the stroke of piston B, Fig. 3, the port I) of piston B has come in connection with the passage leading above piston B, when the cylinder exhausts through port I), and thence through port e to the escape. As shown in Fig. 3, the piston B has completed its upper stroke,while the piston B, as shown in this figure and Fig. 4:, has completed but half its downward stroke, and the supply of steam to piston Bthrough the piston B is cut off by block b As both pistons are carried partially down the steam passing above the piston B, as shown in Fig. 5, drives. it to its full stroke, when the steam above it exhausts through port b. The piston B in its lower descent carries the piston B up to the position shown in Fig. 6. In the further movement of the engine the piston B is carried to the position of piston B in Fig. 3, as shown in Fig. 7, and the movements of the pistons are repeated.

When the steam is admitted through the port a to each piston and exhausted through the port e as shown in the drawings, the en gine is turning to the right. The engine is reversed by turning the four-way cock to pass the steam from the boiler through the branch 6 and port e and exhausted through port a. In each case one cylinder supplies or cuts oit the steam from the opposite cylinder, thus dispensing with the supply-valves and the necessary links and connections for operating them.

The point at which the steam is cut off to each cylinder is regulated by the slides or blocks a, a, b, and b and may be varied by varying the length of said blocks, which are fitted to slide in their ways in the passage in the piston controlling the port admitting steam to either cylinder. The pressure of the steam back of these slides holds them firmly against the Walls of the cylinder. Hence they remain stationary unless carried along by either the upper or the lower walls of their ways in the piston, thus a in Fig. 5 will remain over the port-opening in the cylinder until carried along by the lower wall of its way in the piston on its return stroke. The port-openings in the pistons are thus sometimes above and sometimes below the said blocks.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11 the cylinder and pistons are the same, except that the receiving and exhaust ports are on the same side. In this figure, B is the highpressure piston and B the low-pressure piston. G is the live-steam port and II the exhaust. J is an enlarged chamber for the steam passing from the high-pressure piston B to the low-pressure piston B I have shown my invention in what I believe to be its simplest form; but it is obvious that many mere mechanical changes may be made without departing from its spirit or scope, and hence I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction shown.

What I claim is- 1. The combination in a steam-engine of the cylinders cast in a single piece upon opposite sides of a dividing rib or Web, the steam-passages through said web from the port of each cylinder to the top of the opposite cylinder, similar pistons for each cylinder, having a supply and an exhaust port in each for the opposite cylinder, the crankshaft and pitmen connecting said pistons to the crank-shaft, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination in a steam-engine of the cylinders cast in a single piece upon opposite sides of a dividing rib or web, the steam-passages through said web from the port of each cylinder to the top of the opposite cylinder, similar pistons for each cylinder having supply and exhaust ports in each and sliding blocks in said ports to control the cut-off, the crank-shaft, and pitmen connecting said pistons to the crank-shaft, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination in a steam-engine of the cylinders cast in a single piece upon opposite sides of a dividing rib or web, the steam-passages through said web from the port of each cylinder to the top of the opposite cylinder, similar pistons for each cylinder having a supply and an exhaust port in each for the opposite cylinder, a crank-shaft having wrist-pins at substantially right angles to each other, pitmen connecting said pistons and crank-shaft, a branch pipe to admit steam to and exhaust from the cylinders, and a four-way cock to control the passage to and from either branch for the purpose of reversing the engine, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

WVILLIAM S. VVRIGIIT.

Witnesses:

JAMES DOBLER, CHARLES LIST HAMILTON. 

